In their infinite wisdom, World Rugby chose to schedule the World Cup in a country that is prone to typhoons at this time of year, and to make absolutely no contingency plans should a typhoon threaten.
In a development that appears to have taken the organisers completely by surprise, there is a typhoon headed in Japan’s direction, and two matches have been cancelled, with Japan v Scotland still in doubt.
France will miss out on the possibility of beating England to top their group, and Italy will miss out on a historic chance to beat the All-Blacks and progress to the quarter-finals for the first time.
All right, nobody thinks that Italy would have beaten New Zealand, but it’s a funny old game and a couple of red cards, or another sneaky peek at the rule-book, could have produced the upset of the century. Apparently we’ll never know.
As Parisse said:
“It is ridiculous that a decision of this nature has been made because it isn’t like the fans arrived yesterday. It is ridiculous that there was no plan B, because it isn’t news that typhoons hit Japan.
“Sure everyone might think that Italy versus New Zealand being cancelled counts for nothing because we’d have lost anyway, but we deserved to be respected as a team. We had the chance to play in a big stadium, against a great team.
“The alternative is plan B. When you organise a World Cup you should have one in place.”
Should the Japan v Scotland match be cancelled, all three teams in Pool A contention will have reason to feel aggrieved also: Scotland for obvious reasons, Japan because it is not the way you’d want to go through, and Ireland because they miss the chance to top the pool (that being in Scotland’s gift, rather than Ireland’s hands, of course).
Quite frankly, World Cup should be handed a red card for bringing the game into disrepute. Players and fans alike (and no doubt the sponsors too) are rightly furious.
These matches should be rescheduled in alternative locations.
Last weekend’s rugby
For a rundown on the state of play as of 07/10, please see Deebee’s excellent synopsis.
On the telly this week … or not
Friday 11th October
| Australia 27 – 8 Georgia | 11:15 | ITV4 |
| Cheetahs 40 – 16 Munster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Dragons 14 – 38 Connacht | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 / TG4 / S4C |
| Leinster 40 – 14 Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Gloucester 24 – 26 Bath | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 12th October
| New Zealand v Italy | 05:45 | CANCELLED |
| England v France | 09:15 | CANCELLED |
| Ireland 47 – 5 Samoa | 11:45 | ITV |
| Kings 17 – 42 Ulster | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Scarlets 54 – 10 Zebre | 15:00 | Freesports |
| Ospreys v Treviso | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Cardiff | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 13th October
| Namibia v Canada | 04:15 | ITV |
| USA v Tonga | 06:45 | ITV |
| Wales v Uruguay | 09:10 | ITV / S4C |
| Japan v Scotland | 11:45 | ITV |
Uruguay are defending like demons, but Wales are making very hard work of this.
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I’m just looking forward to the second half when we get players coming on out of position.
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I don’t think it’s had a bearing but it seems a bit of a gaff to have an Aussie ref for this game (getting my excuses in early as I’m pretty sure we’ll lose)
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Some great tackling technique from Los Teros, Low and clean. Showing the way.
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I still think we’ll squeak this one.
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Yay, 7-6.
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Remember the good old days when Wales would lose to Romania or
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It’s a Tier 2 rite of passage to beat Wales, it usually means you’re about 10 years away from beating another Tier 1 team
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Gats trolling Little Eddie one last time?
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Gats will begin the half time talk by firing a bazooka into his own face. He will, of course, be fine and his point will be made well.
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Fox Sports panel for the half time show is Justin Harrison, Stuart Barnes and Phil Kearns.
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Barnesy as the voice of reason.
Never forget that Plank is a proud son of Ulster.
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Ulster have zero trophies since JH left. Coincidence? Imma say no.
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J to the T
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I’d quite happily see Halfpenny kick 5 penalties to take us out of sight.
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Was that to complete the set of things to do wrong?
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Shingler melts in contact…
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No patience Wales.
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Better
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Breathes, just a little bit.
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Uruguay #6 is great. Absolute beserker
The be-mulletted hooker is excellent as well
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Good shift from Elias.
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Maybe, just maybe, Parkes shouldn’t be playing with a broken bone? Another forward pass.
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Amos even held back to receive that one. V
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..ery poor from Parkes.
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Hahaha ah
BAD
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Parkes forgetting he’s not playing for the All Blacks. Another forward pass.
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I just had the remaining quarter of last night’s pizza for breakfast
Not my best ever idea
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Forgot about the broken bone.
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Uruguay so committed but hard to see them in possession of the ball approaching the Welsh line.
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I wanted to see Cubby on the wing
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Adam Beard looks like he was created in Aardman’s studios.
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Manos de mierda
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It’s just the annual no-AWJ game played in October istead of November.
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Real squash update. Mrs Craig’s smashed one of the best players in the club. Unfortunately this was a 12 year old girl who looked like she was on the verge of total teenage apathy. We’ll take it though.
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I feel like I’ve been cheated from some Sunday morning position changing fun *Karl*
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Mrs. Craig’s have any Welsh ancestry?
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Ref easing the door open for us.
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That was very neat by the winger Freitas.
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Wrwgwai still going well. I don’t see the point of Shingler.
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You’ve really got to hope that some of these don’t have to play again in this tournament.
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Be-mulleted hooker gets the try. Get in Uruguay!
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Well deserved – both team and try scorer.
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Either mullet or moustache alone would be something but in combination they are formidable.
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Try for Uruguay. Good stuff by Big Kessler.
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You’ve really got to hope that
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Edging closer to that complete set. Just the sending off to come.
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Tall enough to play lock at a pinch, in the biggest lock crisis of all time coupled with Faletau and Ellis Jenkins being injured.
There’s no depth to Welsh rugby. We’re one Biggar bash on the bonce from me having to sit on the bench next week.
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Kessler has the look of Uli Schmidt about him.
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Parkes borderline forward again.
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